Inmarsat and the Global eHealth Foundation will collaborate to introduce telemedicine programs meant to connect healthcare providers with patients in sub-Saharan Africa with the aid of satellite communications technology.
The alliance intends to use Inmarsat’s Alphasat global telecommunications satellite to help people living in remote areas throughout sub-Saharan Africa to access mobile healthcare services, Inmarsat said Friday.
“We designed Alphasat, in conjunction with our partners at UK Space and the European Space Agency, with the delivery of new developmental services to Africa in mind,” said Rupert Pearce, Inmarsat CEO.
“We are delighted to be supporting the ambitious and laudable aims of the Global e-Health Foundation, and hope that this partnership acts as a catalyst for technology providers and healthcare organisations across the world to become involved in such a vital task,” Pearce added.
Alphasat is part of the firm’s mobile communications satellite constellation and works to provide data and voice connectivity for people in remote locations.
Global eHealth Foundation aims to increase access to medical expertise in Africa and other developing nations through medical technology.